The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to First Lieutenant Herbert W. Atkinson (MCSN: 0-23915), United States Marine Corps, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as a pilot in Marine Torpedo Bombing Squadron TWO HUNDRED THIRTY-TWO (VMTB-232), in action against enemy Japanese forces in the Solomon Islands and New Britain area. Lieutenant Atkinson participated in bombing missions against various hostile objectives, often in the face of heavy anti-aircraft fire. On 17 January 1944, he took part in a vigorous attack upon enemy merchant vessels in the strongly fortified harbor of Rabaul. He drove home a determined and accurate attack despite the unrelenting assaults of numerous enemy fighter planes and damage to his own plane from the intense anti-aircraft fire. Lieutenant Atkinson demonstrated his superb airmanship and expert marksmanship by scoring a direct hit with a 2,000-pound bomb on a large enemy cargo ship. His aggressive fighting spirit and courageous devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.